attitude of gratitude

I was reading one of those little email things [it's been sloooow here on the ranch lately] about how little kids describe love. There were so many very sweet things on there, and then I read this one.....

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."Cindy - age 8

And I almost had a breakdown.

If you have ever participated in a piano recital, especially a big one where you are playing Beethoven from memory and being graded, you know what a nightmare it is. Your hands start sweating way before your name is called. Sweaty digits are a tried and true recipe for recital disaster. When the lady with the extremely thick glasses, too tight nest-y bun, and gaudy rings calls your name... you have a large puddle of perspiration in the middle of your back and your panty hose is stuck to your legs in the worst way. You get up on blindingly lit stage and look at the people in the audience. The majority of the audience is hoping you screw up so that they a better grade and ranked ahead of you, and this feeling automatically triggers the bile to swell in your mouth. Then you see your mom and your dad sitting on the edge of their seat with these ridiculous smiles on their face. They are waving and blowing kisses. They can't wait to hear you play Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata for the 19th million time. They have heard you butcher it, play the same stanzas over and over, helped you with your crescendos and decrescendos, listened to your dispairs, encouraged you to keep playing, and celebrated with you the first time you played the whole thing flawlessly. They believe in you.

Life is much like a piano recital. The majority of the people in my audience are keeping their fingers crossed that I fail, while others are silently judging my performance and critiquing my abilities. Whispers and giggles run rampant through the sea of jerks, but when I see my Mom and Dad out there waving their silly waves and smiling their biggest smiles, I'm not scared anymore.

My cup runneth over.